National Historical Institute Press Statement
The National Historical Institute congratulates the Iloilo Golf and Country Club for keeping alive the legacy of the Santa Barbara Golf Course, which serves as memorial to the colorful history of Iloilo.
The beginning of Santa Barbara Golf Course runs parallel with the development of the railway system linking Iloilo to other towns of Panay in 1907. During this period, the British Engineers of the Philippine Railway Corporation tasked to build the railways also built the golf course on a 2000 yards 9-hole layout. They subsequently formed the Santa Barbara Golf and Country Club with British and American members, and later Filipinos, one of them was Tomas Confessor, a hero of the Philippine Revolution and Governor of Iloilo during the American period. Another Filipino member of the Golf Club was Fernando Lopez, who became Vice President of the Philippines. The golf course withstood time to witness the Second World War, which according to eyewitness accounts, was used by the Americans as barracks during the liberation.
The Santa Barbara Golf Course became the social hub of families of foreign nationals and Filipinos since the early American period. It can be said that it has created socio-economic and tourism advantage to Santa Barbara because its numerous tournaments draw crowds of golf enthusiasts, and provide employment and income-generating opportunities to the residents. It has contributed professional golfers in the history of golf in the Philippines like Mario Siodina, Jose Rates, Jr., Miguel Sequito and Cecil Hechanova (former chair of the Philippine Sports Commission). It is recognized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) as the oldest in the country.
In view thereof, the National Historical Institute hereby formally recognizes the Santa Barbara Golf Course as the “oldest existing golf course in the Philippines” through the Centennial Marker that will be installed in the year 2007. The text of the Centennial Marker reads:
Santa Barbara Golf Course
Founded 1907. Oldest Existing Golf Course in the Philippines under the Santa Barbara Golf and Country Club. Now known as the Iloilo Golf and Country Club, Inc.